The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HERO--BAD MAN STORY

THIS INFORMANT HEARD FROM A FELLOW WORKER AT THE FORD ROUGE COMPLEX
OF A BITTER FEUD BETWEEN TWO NEGROES DURING THE DETROIT RIOTS IN
THE SUMMER OF 1967.
THESE TWO NEGROES WERE NEIGHBORS IN AN INNER-CITY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND
THEY MADE A BET ABOUT WHO COULD LOOT THE MOST DURING THE RIOTS.
ONE MAN LOOTED A WHOLE HOUSE FULL OF FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES,
WHILE THE OTHER MANAGED TO PROCURE ONLY ONE SMALL RADIO AS HIS
PRIZE.
THE SUCCESSFUL LOOTER MOCKED THE OTHER SO UNMERCIFULLY ABOUT HIS
BAD LUCK THAT THE LATTER BURNED DOWN THE FORMER'S ENTIRE HOUSE,
FURNITURE AND ALL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT